Trigger a flow based on words used in the subject of an email (at least one word from a range used)

When using the Outlook Power Automate trigger, When a new email arrives, you can apply a filter based on the email subject. Rather than just a single string as your Subject Filter, you may want to apply a filter that will work on multiple different words. The advanced settings for the trigger allow you to set these conditions.

This one is an example of a use case that came up while I was running Power Automate training. An attendee wanted the flow to monitor an inbox, and if someone sent an email about making a hotel reservation, send an approval request. A range of words could be used in the subject to make a reservation- hotel, booking, reservation, just to name a few. The flow needed to run if at least 1 of those words were contained in the email subject.

To apply a condition such as the one described above, click on … on the When a new email arrives trigger, and select Settings.

Then enter the following in the Trigger Conditions field (replace the highlighted words with your own)

@or(contains(triggerOutputs()?['body/subject'], 'hotel'),contains(triggerOutputs()?['body/subject'], 'reservation'),contains(triggerOutputs()?['body/subject'], 'booking'))

Add another ,contains(triggerOutputs()?[‘body/subject’], ‘xxx‘) to the expression for every word you want to list.

Click Done to save your changes.